Growth Guide
Jan 13, 2026
How to Rank at the Top of the Discord Member List
Learn how to appear at the top of a Discord server’s member list using naming strategies, role hierarchy, and account characteristics that influence sorting.
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How Discord Member Lists Are Ordered
Discord member lists are typically sorted by roles first, then alphabetically. Users at the top of the list are either high-ranking roles or names that sort early in the alphabet.
In some servers, offline users appear in a collapsed section, which can hide certain sorting strategies. Sorting also changes between desktop and mobile layouts.
Using Username Tricks to Rank Higher
One of the oldest and still effective methods for appearing early in the member list is modifying your username.
Common strategies include:
Adding “!”, “.”, or “_” before your name
Using numbers that sort before letters
Using an early-alphabet name such as “A…”
Examples:
! alex_ adam. aiden
These methods work because most servers sort alphabetically within rank groups. Discord doesn’t penalize symbol-based alphabetical sorting, and many competitive or vanity-based communities still use it.
Role Priority and Server Sorting
Role hierarchy always overrides alphabetical sorting. If the server owner places your role above others, your name appears higher regardless of characters or alphabet.
Server admins often rearrange roles to highlight:
Moderators
VIP users
Boosters
Collaborators
Boosters, in particular, frequently get higher placement due to cosmetic role perks and server incentives. This creates a social meta where Nitro boosting indirectly affects visibility.
Aged Accounts and Legacy Sorting Behavior
Before modern sorting rules, older Discord communities sometimes gave priority or vanity placement to legacy accounts or OG usernames. While Discord doesn’t officially rank by account age, older accounts often have shorter, simpler names that sort higher naturally.
Usernames such as:
alexsamben
tend to rise above modern Discord usernames containing numbers or symbols (e.g., sam_4892). Because of the new username system (2023–2025 transition phase), clean names became more valuable and are treated as a quiet status symbol in some communities.
When Member List Sorting Doesn’t Matter
Sorting only matters in servers where visibility is part of social hierarchy — e.g., gaming clans, fan communities, tech servers, or roleplay groups.
In casual friend servers, sorting is mostly ignored. In work, class, or enterprise servers, roles dominate and alphabetical positioning rarely matters.
For offline users, Discord often collapses the list entirely, removing sorting relevance.
Social Context and Etiquette
Being at the top of the member list can signal:
seniority
activity
contribution
vanity
status
However, changing your name solely for rank can look tryhard in some communities. The most accepted strategy is symbol + clean username, especially if you hold a relevant role or boosted status.
If visibility is critical (e.g., recruiters, creators, streamers), request role placement from moderators instead of relying on symbol tricks.
FAQ
Does Discord favor symbols for sorting?
Yes. Symbols come before numbers and letters, so names starting with symbols rank higher alphabetically.
Does Nitro boost raise my name?
Not directly, but many servers grant boosters higher roles, which increases placement.
Does account age affect sorting?
Not officially, but older accounts often have better usernames that sort earlier.
Can you force being first in every server?
No. Sorting rules vary based on roles, server settings, and admin preferences.
